A day after two of the industrialists came out with a clarification that it was not going to move out of the State, Punjab Congress on Monday demanded white paper from SAD-BJP led State Government on the industrial State of affairs in Punjab under its regime, right from 2007 to 2013.
State Congress chief Partap Singh Bajwa said: “We sought no clarifications please give us none. Industrial houses in Punjab are at the mercy of Akali Dal and they cannot afford to speak their real feelings publicly.” “The accusations by Punjab Congress that business houses are being coerced and fleeced are based on authenticated and reliable information, as no one will report it through a written affidavit because of the fear of being victimised,” he added.
Raising a finger on the State's Industrial Policy, Bajwa said: “It is a fact that Punjab has missed out in industrialisation since the advent of Akali BJP rule in Punjab six years back. No worthwhile industrial house has dared to venture into Punjab to make it as their production hub.”
Blaming political victimization for the same, Bajwa said that more than 75 per cent of MOU’s signed by Punjab Government since last six years remain a paper exercise. As per information available, Punjab has received just about 20 per cent of the proposed investment amounting to `63,852.40 crore with mega housing and industrial projects cornering the major share since 2007-08, he claimed. He added that the investment proposals received during the period, included `5,652 crore in 11 mega housing projects, `52,614.12 crore in 98 mega industrial projects, `5,352.48 crore in 40 farm mega projects and `233.80 crore in non-conventional energy projects.
“Out of total investments proposals, actual investments which have come so far in the state stand at `12,494.20 crore in April this year. Actual investments in super mega integrated industrial park projects, which were approved in year 2008 is just `2,257.40 crore so far against the proposed investment of `23,999 crore.
Gurdaspur MP said that it was no bravado to get an industrial house sign the dotted line just to counter political accusation, “the fact remains that no industry is ready to come to Punjab out of fear of Akali Government and the existing ones fear to invest in Punjab”. “let Punjab Government come out in black and white on the both the new industrial houses that have come to Punjab to set up their industries and the existing one who have expanded in Punjab. let the people judge if we have really industrialised or are our industries dying due to Government apathy,” said Bajwa.